"Like astronauts we shoot for the stars in our careers and lives. In the middle of the way we pause and look back. And think not only on planet EARTH, but also on planet SELF, and we ask ourselves; What is it that really matters to me? Who am I and what is my real work to do? What's the story of the future that I want to be part of? That I want to be a contributor to? It is these deeper questions that mark the headway into the deeper territory of leadership." Otto Scharmer.

These are the questions we are trying to answer.

Nadine is very excited about the opportunity that the Fire Starter Festival offers to ignite creativity and spark ideas for change for the better across Ireland. With a true grá (love) for Ireland, and a background in performance coaching in sport and business, she is deeply committed to supporting people’s passions to rise, skills to root and a collective momentum to make a difference, to take hold.

Email: nadine@nadinemccarthy.ie www.bethebestyoucanbe.ie

Chris Chapman is an experienced facilitator of systems change, living in Carlow. Chris currently works mostly in Education, Sustainability and Health Care helping diverse groups of people to come together and co-initiate change towards a better future and also mentoring change leaders. Chris is a core team member of U Lab Ireland and is offering one-to-one support for people planning to host events in the Firestarter Ireland Festival.

Jimmy D'Arcy is a a learning & development manager for the GAA. He values Passion, Collaboration, Community, Responsibility, Movement, Creativity and Family. For Jimmy community is co-created when a group of individuals collaborate with passion, and responsibility is endeavouring to pass these values on. Jimmy is a core team member of U Lab Ireland.

Kasia is passionate about effective and fulfilling teamwork for communities and U.Lab social field. As a core team member of U.Lab Ireland, she trusts that through insight, compassion and trust we can change the world, at least that one around us, at least a little bit by a little bit. Kasia believes that inspiration coming from a good source is contagious and can be sustained, spread like a FIRE and create communities that can have a positive impact on existing systems.

Kathleen is a Wellbeing Facilitator, Cultural Creative and Home Educator living in Donegal. Co- Founder of communiity initiatives Celebrate Water, Transition Inishowen & Inishowen Summer Gathering. Kathleen enjoys integrating wholesome lifestyle with her work, which includes multi-media projects, creativity circles and wellbeing workshops for all ages. Kathleen is new to Theory U and brings 'effective change' experiences from Social Permaculture and Wilderness Education. Graduate of Communications, DIT. www.theedgeschool.net

Niamh is a passionate advocate of igniting a fire and inspiration in people to work to improve our influence and power within society. Creative momentum and reflective brainstorming is key to continue to birth a new improved version of our social spaces and social systems. Niamh is passionate about evolving our Global systems to be sustainable and be best practice in full system design and with the greatest benefit to people and planet holistically. She has studied Environmental Law, Digital Technology & Design, Business Management and Fine Art. She is hoping Fire Starter Festival Ireland will add to this wonderful momentum of profound change and reflection on our systems and how we can creatively improve our sustainability.

Valerie Jackman is an experienced educator, a skilled facilitator, and an enthusiastic collaborator. Currently, Valerie is the Leadership Lead with College Development Network (CDN) Scotland, and on a part time basis she runs her own consultancy business. A member of the ULab Scotland holding team, and a core team member of ULab Ireland, Valerie is keen to share her knowledge and experience of Firestarter and to support this great initiative in her home land.